The City of Austin regulates the towing fee that towing companies may charge in Austin. You are urge if possible to catch the
wrecker driver hooking up your vehicle in a parking lot and demand they release it. If they demand any money but your vehicle is not
"fully loaded ready to transport" as shown in our video or pictures on this page, immediately call 911 and take pictures of your
vehicle with a cellphone for evidence to show the Police. The pictures you want to take are the stage at which you caught the
wrecker driver hooking up your vehicle. The Austin Towing Ordinance and Fee Schedule requires a wrecker driver to release your
vehicle for FREE if the vehicle is "not fully ready to be towed down the street", as shown in this video.

Should a wrecker driver demand any money to release your vehicle still in the parking lot, GET INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE, LOCK THE
DOORS and CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY! Tell the 911 Call Taker the driver is trying charge an unauthorized fee and please send a
policeman.
You are urged to call 512-974-5000 to file an offense report for a wrecker ordinance violation for being charged an unauthorized fee
by the wrecker driver, if towed from a private parking lot or any public street by any towing company. (unless directed by a police
officer) The Austin Police Department has two detectives specially trained to determine if the towing company, wrecker driver or
parking facility committed a criminal offense or violated city ordinance when towing your vehicle. You will need to meet with the
detective assigned to your case and give a written statement, so the investigation may begin. If you fail to report this criminal
behavior, the same wrecker driver, that forced you to pay your hard earned money, will continue to steal from the public, in this
case, it could be a family member or friend.
Important things below to remember for when a police officer arrives
Were the two red tow lights on the vehicle?
Were the wheel dollies raised up or down
as shown? As shown here, the dollies
are assembled, but have not been raised.
Were both safety chains hooked up to the
vehicle? Both tow chains have to be attached
to the vehicle to transport down the highway,
or collect any money from you.
Almost ready to go, but missing what? Tow Lights
City of Austin Wrecker  
Operator License
State of Texas Operator License
A "WRECKER DRIVER" CANNOT FORCE YOU TO GET OUT OF "YOUR" VEHICLE IN AUSTIN!
JUST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS HOOKED UP
DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO PAY IF IN
AUSTIN, NO FEE SHOULD BE CHARGED HERE!
LOTS OF PEOPLE GET BURNED BY WRECKER
DRIVERS CHARGING UNAUTHORIZED FEE
SIMPLY BECAUSE DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE OF
THE AUSTIN CITY ORDINANCE
Texas Towing Compliance
If this happens to you in AUSTIN call 911 immediately!!!